UN Secretary-General’s message on World Press Freedom Day

armradio.am
03.05.2008 11:48

From the education of the youngest members of society to the full
public engagement of citizens with their political leadership, access
to information empowers each one of us to transform our lives and our
communities. Just as water is essential for life to grow, knowledge
sustains our capacity to imagine and to change. When information flows
freely, people are equipped with tools to take control of their lives.
When the flow of information is hindered — whether for political or
technological reasons — our capacity to function is stunted.

Sixty years ago, the drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights declared in Article 19 that the right of everyone to freedom of
opinion and expression `includes freedom to hold opinions without
interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas
through any media and regardless of frontiers.’ As the rapid pace of
globalization has strengthened the development of a free, pluralistic,
independent and professional media, the significance of this right has
never been more evident. Technological advances have promoted media and
information literacy as right for all to access equally.

A free, secure and independent media is one of the foundations of peace
and democracy. Attacks on freedom of press are attacks against
international law, against humanity, against freedom itself — against
everything the United Nations stands for. I am therefore all the more
alarmed at the way journalists are increasingly being targeted around
the world, and dismayed when such crimes are not thoroughly
investigated and prosecuted.

On this World Press Freedom Day, and in this year when we mark the 60th
anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I call on all
societies to spare no effort in bringing to justice the perpetrators of
attacks on journalists. I pay tribute to all who work in difficult and
dangerous conditions to provide us with free, unbiased information. And
I call on every one of us to work for the freedom — and the safety —
of the press everywhere.